Dorset schools encouraged to take part in art trail
Weldmar Hospicecare’s Stampede by the Sea will arrive next March
Last updated 19th Jul 2024
Schools in Dorset are being encouraged to sign up to a unique learning opportunity as part of an art trail coming to Bridport, West Bay and Lyme Regis next spring.
Weldmar Hospicecare’s Stampede by the Sea has been given a boost with the announcement that Wessex Internet has become the project’s Learning Programme partner, supporting the rollout of the resources that will be shared with participating schools and youth organisations.
Fifty brightly decorated elephants will be arriving in Bridport, West Bay, and Lyme Regis for eight weeks from March 2025, to raise funds and awareness for the Dorset charity. Each participating school receives their own ‘Baby Elephant’ to design and paint and be included on the trail, and it will be theirs to keep afterwards.
Not only is there a stimulating creative benefit for youngsters, but Weldmar will also provide training to teachers in supporting children experiencing grief and loss, as well as resources linked to physical and mental health, and citizenship.
Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet, says: “We’re hugely excited to be part of Stampede by the Sea: it’s a great opportunity for us to support Weldmar, a charity that provides critical care to so many residents across our Dorset coverage area. The art trail struck us as a fantastic opportunity to enable the showcasing of a wide range of artists’ and schools’ work, while encouraging families to engage with the charity in a fun and dynamic way.
“In particular, we decided to become Learning Programme partner because we wanted to assist Weldmar to make a long-term impact through their scheme providing essential training and materials for schools. This will help teachers to guide young people through difficult periods of their life, such as a bereavement or terminal illness in the family.
“Wessex Internet has always been passionate about the difference we make to rural communities with the rollout of our game changing full fibre broadband, so it’s now great to support Weldmar’s work, which is impactful in other ways to those same communities.
“We are a local, independent and family-owned business that has a longstanding connection to Weldmar through my family and it’s an honour to have this opportunity to extend this association with Weldmar to Wessex Internet directly.”
Matt Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Weldmar Hospicecare, says: “Stampede by the Sea provides us with a unique opportunity to engage with all members of our local community, and working with schools and community groups is something that we are excited to deliver.
“Whilst following the trail to see all of the brightly coloured elephants will be a brilliant thing to do, there is a far deeper meaning to what we’re doing: opening up conversations about dying and the bereavement process. Often when children are involved, these vital conversations do not take place – we want that to change and ensure that art-based learning can help with tackling the ‘elephant in the room’.
“We are absolutely delighted that Wessex Internet has joined us as our official Learning Partner and we look forward to working with them over the coming months.”
Headteachers are being advised to sign up for one of the remaining limited places in the Stampede by the Sea Learning Programme before breaking up for the summer holidays, and can do so at stampedebythesea.org, or by calling 01305 261800.